Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (2024)

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Rich and decadent chocolate french silk pie recipe. This pie filling requires no baking and is a rich silky chocolate filling with whipped cream topping and chocolate shavings.

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (1)

Chocolate French Silk Pie Overview

  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Components Used: Basic Pie Crust, Whipped Cream for Topping

Chocolate french silk pie is an incredibly rich chocolate pie with a chocolate mousse filling and a whipped cream topping. The filling is intensely chocolate in flavor and is very rich from the high ratio of butter and eggs in the mousse.

Traditional french silk pie is made with a classic pie crust which is what I prefer. I think the contrast of the salty crust is perfect with the rich filling. However, if you prefer, you can use a graham cracker crust or an oreo crust.

This pie is always a showstopper! I bring this along to most holiday gatherings and it is always the most popular dessert offered!

What is French Silk Pie Made Of? Why is it Called French Silk?

French silk pie is made from a rich chocolate filling that is, as its name suggests, incredibly silky. The filling is essentially a rich chocolate mousse made from butter, sugar, eggs, and chocolate. The filling is also kept raw which helps with its unique texture.

There is some debate about when this pie first originated. Some believe it came about in the 50’s as a winner of a Pillsbury bake-off, others think it first appeared in the 80’s created by a famous pastry chef. Wherever it started it is sure to be a hit with whoever it is shared with!

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (2)

Is French Silk Pie Safe to Eat?

The concern around french silk pie being safe to eat stems from the fact that it is traditionally made with raw eggs in the filling. There are versions out there that call for cooking the filling, however I find the filling to be inferior to the classic version.

Because this recipe does use raw eggs it is important to use pasteurized eggs if you are concerned about foodborne illness. Pasteurized eggs have been heated to a point where any bacteria present will be killed to eliminate the risk of foodborne illness, but the egg remains raw.

You can look for brands of eggs that are labeled as pasteurized in the grocery store. Or if you are unable to find them you can pasteurize eggs yourself using this tutorial.

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (3)

How to Make French Silk Pie

I highly recommend to read the recipe all the way through before starting. Also make sure that you do not rush the filling process as it needs the full mixing time to really set up.

Step 1: Prepare the Crust

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (4)

I prefer a traditional pie crust for this pie (recipe below). However, if you prefer, you can prep a graham cracker or an oreo crust. Oreo is my husbands favorite with this pie, but I think its a little too rich.

Step 2: Bake & Cool the Crust

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (5)

Blind bake the crust and allow to cool completely before adding the filling. Because the filling is kept raw, the crust must be baked all the way through before the filling is added.

Step 3: Cream the Butter & Sugar for the Filling

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (6)

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will take a good 3-4 full minutes of mixing.

Step 4: Add the Chocolate

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Add the melted and cooled chocolate into the mixing bowl along with the cocoa powder and espresso powder if using. The cocoa and espresso powder are optional but really help intensify the chocolate flavor.

Step 5: Add the Eggs one at a Time

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (8)
Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (9)

Add the eggs into the mixer one at a time, mixing on high speed for 5 full minutes after each egg addition. This is extremely important for the filling to be able to set.

Do not rush the mixing and adding of the eggs. You will be mixing for a full 20 minutes at high speed- 5 minutes for each of 4 eggs. If you do not have a stand mixer you can use a hand mixer for this step, but it will be quite the arm workout!

Step 6: Allow the Filling to Set & Top

Pour the filling into the cooled pie crust and let it set for 3-4 hours in the refrigerator. Then you can top it with real whipped cream and chocolate shavings!

If you’d like to make the whipped cream in advance, make a stabilized version that contains gelatin. Myrecipe for stabilized whipped creamcan be made up to 4 days in advance.

Does French Silk Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?

French silk pie definitely needs to be kept in the refrigerator due to the raw eggs in the filling. The filling will also start melting if it becomes too warm.

How Long Can You Keep French Silk Pie?

You can keep french silk pie refrigerated and loosely covered for 3-4 days. It is best eaten the day after it is made for the best texture with the crust.

Watch the Video Tutorial!

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (11)

Yield: 1- 9" Pie

Chocolate French Silk Pie

Prep Time4 hours

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time4 hours 25 minutes

This pie filling requires no baking and is a rich silky chocolate filling with whipped cream topping and chocolate shavings.

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1 1/4 cups (150 gr) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup (75 gr) shortening or cold butter cut into small pieces
  • 2-4 TBSP (30 ml-60 ml) ice water

For the Filling

  • 1 cup (220 gr) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (294 gr) granulated sugar
  • 4 ounces (112 gr) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly (I used ghiradelli 100% chocolate)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 TBSP (13 gr) cocoa powder (optional, but intensifies the chocolate flavor and color)
  • 1/4 tsp instant espresso powder (optional, but intensifies the chocolate flavor)
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature (*use pasteurized eggs to eliminate risk of foodborne illness)

For the Topping

  • 1 cup (237 ml) cold heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup (40 gr) powdered sugar
  • chocolate shavings, optional

Instructions

NOTE: There have been several reviews that this pie has ended up with a grainy texture. After extensive testing these things will prevent this: Make sure you are using a paddle attachment (not the whisk attachment) for your mixer. Mix each egg for a full 5 minutes. Do not rush this part! Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl and the bottom of the bowl between each egg addition to insure that all of the sugar is getting mixed fully and is not sticking to the sides or bottom.

For the Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 400º F (200 C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the shortening or butter to the bowl and cut it in with a pastry cutter until the consistency of coarse meal.
  3. Add ice water 1 TBSP at a time while stirring gently until the dough starts to form into a ball.
  4. Gently pat the pie dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  5. Gently roll out the crust out on a lightly floured surface until it is about a 12 inch circle. Place the dough in the pie plate and pull up on the edges to let it fall into the plate naturally. Do not stretch it to fit. Crimp edges as desired (watch the video to see how I shape it). Dock the dough by piercing with a fork several times around the bottom and sides.
  6. Lay a piece of parchment paper into the crust and fill with it dried beans, rice, or pie weights.
  7. Bake in the bottom third of the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the pie weights and place back in the oven for 5 more minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
  8. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before filling.

For the Filling

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (make sure not to use a whisk attachment), beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy- about 3-4 minutes.
  2. With the mixer still running, pour the cooled melted chocolate into the butter/sugar mixture. Add the vanilla, cocoa powder, and espresso powder if using. Scrape down the bowl.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 5 full minutes in between each addition (20 minutes total) at a medium/high speed (setting 8 on stand mixer). Scrape down the bowl making sure to get the sides and the bottom of the bowl between each egg addition. This is important to make sure all of the sugar is getting fully mixed and your pie will be truly silky. The full mixing time of 20 minutes, 5 minutes for EACH egg, is necessary to get the silky texture and for the pie to set.
  4. Pour the filling into the cooled crust and allow to set in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before serving.

To Top

  1. Pour the heavy cream and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with a hand mixer. Whip on high speed and slowly stream in the powdered sugar until the whipped cream reaches stiff peaks.
  2. Top the pie with whipped cream and chocolate shavings or curls.

Notes

  • Filling recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's French Silk Pie Recipe
  • Disclaimer: Consuming raw or under-cooked eggs may increase your risk of food borne illness, especially if you have a medical condition. Use pasteurized eggs to reduce risk.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 635

Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe | Baker Bettie (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chocolate cream pie and French silk pie? ›

The Crust: Chocolate cream pie traditionally sits on a cookie crumb crust, while French silk pie traditionally sits on a pastry crust. The Filling: Chocolate cream pie filling has a denser, pudding-like consistency, while French silk pie filling has a lighter, airier, more mousse-like consistency.

What is the difference between chocolate mousse and French silk? ›

Unlike denser chocolate mousse pie, French silk uses whipped eggs to achieve the remarkably light texture of its filling. Whisking the eggs with sugar over a double boiler dissolves the sugar, heats the eggs to a safe eating temperature, and incorporates air bubbles into the mix.

What is French silk pie filling made of? ›

At its core, French silk pie is just a chocolate mousse consisting of eggs, cream, chocolate, sugar, and butter. (The building blocks of life!) Its title is accurate: yes, this pie really does have the texture of silk, albeit delicious silk.

Can you have French silk pie while pregnant? ›

This French Silk Pie is safe to eat during pregnancy because the eggs are cooked to 160°F. If you are at all concerned, simply use pasteurized eggs. How do you store French Silk Pie? Store French Silk Pie in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to a week or 2 months frozen.

What is chocolate satin pie made of? ›

Key Ingredients for Chocolate Satin Pie:

A chocolate cookie crust or graham crust works GREAT for this recipe if you want something different from a traditional crust. Heavy Whipping Cream. Chocolate. I use a blend of good quality dark chocolate and semi-sweet to get a decadent, rich pie.

Does Dairy Queen still have French silk pie? ›

Dairy Queen has discontinued the French Silk Pie Blizzard, a fan favorite.

Why is Boston cream pie not called cake? ›

A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were baked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".

Why is my chocolate mousse not fluffy? ›

Not fluffy enough, not chocolatey enough, too sweet, grainy, etc etc. Many “easy” chocolate mousse recipes tend to use too much cream so the end result is more like custard, rather than aerated like real chocolate mousse should be.

Why is it called French silk? ›

The name French Silk Pie comes from its silky texture! The chocolate filling is often beaten for long amounts of time, aerating the mixture, unlike its thicker pudding filling counterpart. Whipped cream is also often folded into the filling, giving it its mousse-like texture.

Why is chocolate mousse so good? ›

Its texture is easy to recognize as it has a light, airy look, its chocolate flavor is intense and it's soft and melting on the palate. This dessert is a real treat and a light and simple finale to any meal.

Does French silk pie contain raw eggs? ›

Most French silk pie recipes call for raw eggs, but I gently cook them first. This requires an extra step on the stove, but it cancels out any worries of serving raw eggs. Even with this step, we still have the same smooth-as-silk texture—nothing is compromised!

Why put butter in pie filling? ›

Some say that scattering small bits of butter over a fruit filling keeps the juices from bubbling over in the same way that adding a bit of fat to simmering jam keeps it from foaming up in the preserving pan. The theory is that the fat disrupts the formation of bubbles on the surface of the viscous fruit mixture.

What thickens pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed. We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies.

Can you eat raw eggs in a pie? ›

Chiffon pies and fruit whips made with raw, beaten egg whites may not be safe. In place of the raw egg whites, substitute pasteurized dried egg whites, whipped cream, or a whipped topping. In any recipe, in-shell pasteurized eggs and pasteurized egg substitutes may be used safely without cooking.

Why can't you have mousse when pregnant? ›

Tiramisu, chocolate mousse and uncooked meringues.

These all incorporate raw eggs into their decadent recipes, upping the risk of salmonella.

What cake to avoid when pregnant? ›

Cakes with alcohol or raw eggs should be avoided.

What is Dolly Parton pie? ›

Dolly Parton Pie is the world-famous singer's favorite, a walnut pie with a rich, sweet filling you can enjoy whenever you get the Mule Skinner Blues! Buttery, crunchy, and melodic, Dolly Parton Pie is just what you need most when it's time to tuck into dessert. You'll fall in love with it on the first bite!

What is a patsy pie? ›

The English word "pasty" derives from Medieval French (O.Fr. paste from V. Lat pasta) for a pie, filled with venison, salmon or other meat, vegetables or cheese, baked without a dish. Pasties have been mentioned in cookbooks throughout the ages.

What are the two styles of traditional pie dough What makes them different? ›

A flaky crust is used for non-liquid or cooked fillings. It's achieved by keeping your fat pieces larger after combining. Mealy dough is used for pies with a liquid or custard filling. It's dense, so it can withstand heavier fillings, and is made by rubbing your fat and flour down to cornmeal-sized pieces.

What is the difference between a cream pie filling and a custard pie filling? ›

The difference is how the filling comes together: a custard filling is usually baked, while a cream pie filling is not. But we're not here to be fastidious, so you'll spot a few custard pies in the collection below—we promise they'll satisfy just as well whenever a cream pie craving hits.

What makes a cream pie different from other types of pies? ›

Cream pie. This mouthwatering variety of pie is unique from other pies in that the crust is typically baked first. A pudding-like mixture of milk, sugar, eggs, and other flavorings is then cooked on the stovetop until thick and poured into that pie crust to chill and set until firm.

What's the difference between chocolate pudding and chocolate mousse? ›

Pudding is meant to be thick, soft, and silky, and is, therefore, a lot less airy than mousse. This difference in texture lies in preparation. Pudding requires heat to come together with the right consistency, whereas mousse simply needs to be whipped together.

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